Ascension Day

Today is the Day of Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, which occurred 40 days after Jesus' Resurrection. May 29, 2025, marks the moment in the Easter season when believers celebrate Jesus' ascension into heaven, which was witnessed by his disciples. 

According to Wikipedia, in the tradition of the Catholic Church, Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord or Holy Thursday, is a Holy Day of Obligation. I understand that to mean that Catholics will celebrate Mass. Forgive me, if I am in error, because I am not of the Catholic faith.

To me, the time of Jesus' Ascension is the culmination of many prophecies. It is the completion of Christ's earthly mission, the promise of eternal life, and the hope of His return one day. It is a day filled with hope and promise. One part of that promise is fulfilled at Pentecost, 10 days later, when the Holy Spirit empowers followers to spread the Good News to the ends of the earth.

"When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God," (Luke 24:50-53 NIV).

"They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."" (Acts 1:10-11 NIV).

Heavenly Father, I am thankful for Your ways and for Your plan to send Jesus to us for a while. I imagine Jesus seated at Your right hand in heaven and I am so blessed by Your love and mercy. Help me follow Your path to righteousness, even when I stumble. I am thankful that Jesus is coming to us again, and I try to be ready for that great day. I pray in Jesus' Holy Name, Amen.

We Remember

Today we honor and mourn all those military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Tradition is to post the American flag at each gravesite of Veterans who have passed away in service. I loved the tradition at my home church in rural Iowa. Each Sunday before Memorial Day members would bring cut flowers from their gardens. After a reading of the Servicemen buried in the church cemetery, we would each take a bundle of flowers and march behind the flag carried by a Serviceperson to the cemetery, perhaps a half mile away. 

We would then gather around a memorial to an Unknown Soldier to pause in prayer, and often hear Taps played at the other side of the cemetery. We would each place a few of our flowers on the grave, then walk through the cemetery, placing flowers at each Serviceperson's stone marked by an American flag. We also identified the pioneers who settled and established the first organized church in Marshall County in 1851 in rural Liscomb, Iowa.

"God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress," (Psalm 46:1-7 NIV).

Father God, thank You for being our strength through battles, through changes in leadership, through devastating losses of our Service Men and Women who fought for our freedom around the world. We thank You for being at our side wherever we are. We are thankful for You being with those who serve for our country in the military and in leadership. God, we thank You for those brave souls who gave us protection from evil military around the world. Our hearts ache for those we have lost, though we know You were with them. Thank You for being our refuge and our strength. Amen.

Hope on the Solid Rock

When we moved to Ankeny in 2016 our house sat on a nearly empty block. There were no houses across the street and next door was an empty lot. It is hard to even remember what it looked like back then because all the lots are now filled with houses and families.  

Ankeny has experienced a growth explosion over the past 15 years. And the growth isn't over yet. Every year more and more houses and apartments are being built. In April 2025 there were 114 building permits  issued. Sixty were new residential units or houses. Wouldn't you love to own a concrete company that gets to pour all those foundations?

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood , hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light,"             (1 Corinthians 3:10-12 NIV).

As a believer, my foundation is indeed Jesus Christ. He is my hope and my solid rock. I am reminded of the old hymn, "My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less" written by Edward Mote in 1834, music by William B. Bradbury, in 1863. The words of the first verse follow:

"My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus' name. (Refrain) On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand."

Heavenly Father, thank You for the perfect foundation You laid for us when You sent Your Son Jesus to be our Savior. Nothing but His blood could wash away our sins. We stand firmly on this Rock as we watch others sink into the sand. Only You can raise us up from the pit of darkness, into the Light of Jesus. We thank You for the grace You have shown us through Jesus Christ. We pray in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

#1100 Gloria's Glimpses 

Our Hope

"Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand," (Psalm 16:9-11 NIV). 

David wrote Psalm 16, telling the joys and reasons for developing a close relationship with God. Believers  can enjoy companionship with our Father in heaven, both now and eternally. Verses 9-10 reference the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Both Paul and Peter quote part of this scripture when they spoke about Jesus' bodily resurrection in the New Testament. For that reason Psalm 16 is often called a Messianic psalm.

My Life Application Study Bible NIV commentary of Psalm 16:9 explains that David had found the secret of joy. "True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based on God's presence within us."

The Life Application commentary of Psalm 16:10 says, "Many people fear death because they can neither control nor understand it. As believers, we can be assured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with him forever."

That is our greatest hope. 

Heavenly Father, we open our hearts to You today, asking You to fill us with true joy; the kind of joy that only You can provide. Though we may be facing difficulty in our lives, we can be secure even in times of pain, trouble or failure. We can be sure of Your guidance and direction along the path You have chosen for us. Thank You, God, for leading us in a path that is correct and purposeful in Your eyes. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning by Morning

As the warm sun enfolds Iowa again today I am overwhelmed by God's faithfulness in my life. He alone knows all of my struggles and my sins. He sees my temptations and watches me fail to avoid them. Again and again I make the same mistakes and ask for His forgiveness. Still He is there for me through it all.

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope:  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him," (Lamentations 3:21-24 NIV). 

I have my parents' copy of an old church hymnal. For many years, together they would choose songs for worship. Mother played the piano and Daddy led the singing. In this hymnal they would make tic marks to show when they used it. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" has 12 marks beside it, showing how frequently the song was used. It was definitely a favorite.

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness, O God my father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changes not, Thy compassions they fail.not; As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.  Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"  Written by Thomas Chisholm in 1923.

I imagine many of you are singing this verse, then continuing through two more verses. How glad God will be to hear us worship and pray.

Heavenly Father, Creator of our mornings, we thank You for all of Your faithfulness to us. In the middle of our daily messy lives we struggle to put one foot in front of another. But if we turn to You, God, we know we will find the same God with the same love and faithfulness we have experienced in the past. Lord remain with us, even as we sin, because Lord, we know we can come to You always, on our knees. In the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

How Can We Not?

"To us also, through every star, through every blade of grass, is not God made visible if we will open our minds and eyes?"                                                                                                                                                                           Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) - Scottish essayist and historian 

Every day holds new beauty to behold all around us. I have been blown away by the amazing creation of God all around me this spring. Maybe it is because of the showers we have received that we didn't get the last few years. Maybe it is just because God is blessing us abundantly for no reason at all. 

Last year Leanna Crawford produced a song that I just love because it shares my sentiment too. Every time I heard the song, "How Can You Not," I loved it. I wish I knew how to include a link to her song, but the lyrics will have to do today.

"I see the sun rise in the morning And a million stars at night. I hear the birds, they can't stop singing  Hallelujah. How can you not see God. In every little thing. In every little moment?  How can you not feel loved? How can you not?  How can you not?  'Cause He's in the middle of   Every little thing. And every little moment How can you not see God?  How can you not?  How can you not?  I see the sunset and I wonder. If He paints it just for me. Nobody else could make a world so beautiful. How could I question His love when. It's everywhere I go.  Wherever I look I find another miracle   Everything is evidence (ooh). Showing me that You exist (oh) All creation singing hallelujah. 'Cause He's in the middle of (He's in the middle of) Every little thing. And every little moment. How can you not see God? (oh) How can you not?  How can you not?  (Everything). How can you not see God (all creation singing hallelujah). How can you not?  How can you not?"   Songwriters: Jeff Sojka/ Jessie Early/ Leanna Crawford 2024.

"Who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. Those living far away fear your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades you call forth songs of joy," (Psalm 65:6-8 NIV).

Oh, Lord God You are so good to us! Every day Your evidence surrounds us. We lift our praise to You alone because it all Your creation, by Your design. Thank You, God, for every blade of green grass, every flower that rises from the ground, every tree that survives the strong storms...it is all touched by You, God. Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to teach us and to save us from ourselves and our sin. Thank You for all the beauty of the earth. We pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy Mother’s Day

 Favorite photo of my Mama -
Clara Hilsabeck Springer

Mother’s Day is Sunday; Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers!

I think every mother has her own birth day story. Whether in a hospital setting or the arrival of a child through adoption, the story is uniquely her own and oh, so sentimental. 

I was the youngest of five children over the span of 20+ years. While I was growing up I often thought I was an “accident” and thus unwanted. But my mother assured me that I was planned in an effort to get a break from some of her church responsibilities! Now whether or not that was really true, I’ll never know for sure but it was a sweet story for my mother to tell.

“…She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Proverbs 31:26-31 NIV).

Lord God, I ask for blessings to cover all the mothers this week. Surround them with Your protection and grace. Comfort those mothers who have lost a child, and comfort those children who have lost their mothers. Help us remember our mothers with love and appreciation for the many ways they sacrificed for us. Thank you Lord, for the gift of our mothers and their faith shared with us. We pray in Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.

Mental Health Month

May is Mental Health Month, first organized in 1949. That surprises me because I don't remember hearing about it until recent years. Perhaps that shows how we pay attention to things only when they become personal. NAMI's theme for this year is "In Every Story, There's Strength". Their goal is to spread awareness that helps break the stigma and to address the challenges for the millions of Americans who live with mental health issues every day.

Many of you are familiar with my story but for those who aren't I will share it again. Depression is just one part of mental health. It is especially close to me as I have experienced it since I was young, though it was only diagnosed in my late 20s. Thanks to my husband, he recognized my growing depression and first called in our pastor and then a doctor to help me.

Unfortunately, as with many people, the fix was not immediate. I was put on various medications to try and help but one even made my depression worse. I nearly took my own life after an overdose that ended in the ER only because my husband came home early one day. I spent weeks in a mental ward of a hospital as they tried to find a medicine to help me.

I endured long stretches of medication trials, therapy, intensive psychiatric therapy at Mayo, more medication changes, and weeks of ECT when medicine didn't work. Medication changes are ongoing because of side effects that sometimes become too much to endure. My chronic recurrent major depressive disorder is currently controlled by numerous medications. Throughout, it all, my faith has been the therapy I cling to.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord," (Psalm 40:1-3 NIV).

Thank You, Lord, for being the One I can call on, no matter what state of mind I am in. I praise You when I am high on peace and when I am low on pain. You are always the same. I can trust in You always. Lord, please hear the cries of others who seek you in their illness and guide them to the help they need. I worship You only God, and praise You for sending Your Son to bring us into a relationship with You. I pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen.

May Day of Prayer

One thing about growing up in the country that I missed were days like May Day. I knew about what happened but didn’t get to experience May Day like others my age did. I’m not sure May Day holds the same excitement for current children, as it did in my generation. Now, there are video games, cell phones, and a dozen other activities for youngsters. They don’t need to wait for a knock on the door to begin a chase back to the knockers' door.

My husband John grew up in the tiny town of Clemons, Iowa. There was no Maypole in town but he shared with me the story of one May Day event that has sparked plenty of laughter during the years. It was customary for children to deliver May baskets to their friends. So John delivered a May basket to a classmate in town and a chase ensued. The girl chased John all the way back to his house, through the kitchen door, up the stairs, to John’s bedroom where he promptly slammed the door in her face, narrowly avoiding a kiss from the recipient of his basket. 

Today is also the National Day of Prayer, as formally established by President Truman in 1952. However, the tradition goes back to the Continental Congress in 1775. The day calls people of all religions and denominations in America to gather together in prayer to God as individuals or in groups for America.

This year the 2025 National Day of Prayer Taskforce chose Romans 15:13 as the theme, “Pour Out To The God of Hope and Be Filled”. This is the 74th Annual National Day of Prayer.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” (Romans 15:13 NIV). 

Heavenly Father, we gladly join others in our nation, to call on You in prayer. We know that our country needs You and we plead to You our desire for Your leadership and guidance in all that is done in America’s name. We lift praise to You, O Lord, as we pray in Jesus’ Name. Amen.